... and Forever (Next Generation: Chaos Bleeds 1)

“You were fighting!” Tiny yelled. The sound echoed around the room. A couple of the guys didn’t look happy. Daisy held her hand. Anthony was in the corner with Miles. She didn’t know where everyone else was.

She’d slowly been distancing herself from the club. She didn’t know why, just that it felt right to do.

“And? It’s not like I was in Vegas, was it? At Grandpa’s place, killing people. No. it was civilized.” She spat the words right back at him, watching as Tiny and Devil shared a look. “Is that why you’re here? To go and see Simon?”

“I’m aware of his sudden appearance in Vegas,” Devil said.

“Yeah, so am I. He’s making quite a name for himself.”

“We believe he may try to reach out to you,” Devil said.

“He can kiss my ass.” She wasn’t going to forgive him or have anything to do with him. “What do you want from me?”

“I was wondering if you would consider a move to Piston County,” Devil said.

She huffed. “No. I won’t consider a move. This is where I live.”

“I want to deal with Simon and to do that, I’m going to need you to lure him there.”

“Piston County isn’t my home. You think I’m just going to move Nathan to somewhere he doesn’t know?”

“Nathan and you are family.”

She shook her head. “No, we’re not.”

“You’re still married to my son.”

“And guess what conclusion I came to today. I’m going to be divorcing him as well.”

Silence rang out across the clubhouse. She winced as Sandy dabbed at her cheek.

“What? Have I surprised everyone?” She looked at her dad, Devil, and Daisy before returning her attention to Devil. “I went on a date tonight and deep down, I felt like I was betraying some kind of pact I have with Simon. He’s not here. He’s off playing around and I’m done. I’m done waiting for a man who doesn’t have the balls to come back to me.”

“I don’t believe you’ve thought about this.”

She forced a laugh. “Are you kidding me right now? I have thought about this. Since we were kids, you were both trying to keep us separated. Always meddling. Always doing whatever it was you do to keep us apart. Guess what, it worked. We’re apart. I want a divorce!” She pushed Sandy away.

“I don’t want this. I had fun tonight. Do you even realize that? The first time in my life I actually had fun and it was fighting. I’m not going to give that up.”

“Tabitha, if Simon comes to Fort Wills, it could start a war,” Lash said.

This made her pause as she turned to the club president. One look at Lash had her gaze going to Anthony.

Her friend stared back at her.

“What do you mean?”

“As part of the turf agreement, Simon is never to set foot on Fort Wills land. If he does, we breach the peace agreement, and our club goes to war with the Dogs.” Lash held himself up tall.

“So we’re a bunch of pussies now? Is that it? We’re scared of the other club?”

“If Simon sets foot in this town, not only will it put The Skulls in an all-out war, it will put my son at risk,” Devil said.

“This is the agreement you made?”

“The Monster Dogs are not a club to mess around with.”

“We’re The Skulls,” she said.

“Yes, and you think I haven’t lived through enough death? I had to make a judgment call at the time. None of us could afford a war, and I’m not about to start one now.”

She stepped away from them. “That’s why you want me to come to Piston County. He’s safe there.”

“Simon can approach you and he’ll be safe.”

“Still, we’re protecting him while he does whatever the hell he wants. I need some air.” She walked away, shaking them off as she headed outside toward the benches. So many memories swarmed her but rather than fight them off, she embraced them, basking in the feelings of a time when life was simpler.

Their love.

Tears filled her eyes. One of which was starting to swell.

She heard footsteps and then felt Miles’s arms around her.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” she asked, burying her head close to him. She knew a deal had been made but not the ramifications of that deal.

“I wanted to, but you were always hurting. I didn’t want to make it worse. Lash and Devil made the right call at the time. We all knew it. Also, in the beginning, there was no risk of Simon coming back.”

“And you think he will now?”

“Yes. Showing up with Grandpa, it shows he’s close to us now more than ever. He’s coming for you, Tabs.”

She didn’t believe it. “Tell me, have you talked to him? Called him? Anything?”

“No. I haven’t spoken to him. Simon and I, we were never close, not really.”